8 Nations Represented Among 22 Remaining WSOP 2011 Main Event Poker Players
Khoa Nguyen, Aleksandr Mozhnyakov, John Hewitt, Pius Heinz, Konstantinos Mamaliadis, Martin Staszko, Samuel Holden, Andrey Pateychuk, the United Nations of the 2011 WSOP
With most of the field made up of Americans, the 2011 World Series of Poker Main Event field still had its fair share of worldwide representation. Players from Canada, South Africa, Russia, The Czech Republic, Costa Rica, Germany and the United Kingdom were still alive Tuesday.
Khoa Nguyen is representing Gambling911.com’s home base of Alberta. His money earnings over the years are not entirely impressive at just over $40,000 but Nguyen does have 5 cashes since 2008 and he is guaranteed a few hundred thousands dollars from the WSOP Main Event earnings.
Russia had representation from two players. Aleksandr Mozhnyakov (who Monday night was the 4th biggest chip leader) and Andrey Pateychuk are both looking to win the big one as they hang strong in the Main Event.
Mozhnyakov has four cashes in live tournaments and just over $40,000 won. Pateychuk plays online as ThePateychuk and has two cashes in live play with just over $35,000 won.
John Hewitt, an American from Illinois now living in Costa Rica, has enjoyed some success playing on the Web. He had one cash at this year’s WSOP.
Germany’s Pius Heinz is one to watch, having cashed out in 7th place at this year’s No Limit Hold’em event for just over $80,000.
"I don't feel any pressure at all," said Heinz. "The field left is really strong, a lot of really good players left. My tournament went pretty smooth for the most part and I'm just happy to be here. Whatever happens, happens."
Konstantinos Mamaliadis is a relative unknown from Durban, South Africa.
The 34-year-old importer/exporter has been dreaming of coming to the World Series of Poker for five years now.
"Hopefully, I can become the first South African to win the main event," Mamaliadis said. "Poker's already huge in South Africa, this is just the next step. This has been exhilarating and nerve-wracking all at the same time."
Sam Holden represents the UK and this will be his first five-figure win.
"November's the dream," Holden beamed. "All the messages I'm getting from back home, it's definitely getting pretty serious."
No player from the Czech Republic has ever made a main event final table. And to think, Martin Staszko just barely made the bubble with 12,000 chips.
- Ace King, Gambling911.com
